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Downing Street held its second Cobra meeting in days amid warnings the scorcher may cause a “surge” in demand on services and increase the risk of death and disruption. An “amber” extreme heat warning is in place for much of England and Wales for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday – with temperatures likely to peak in excess of 95F in southern, central and eastern areas.

The UK record high of 101.7F – recorded in Cambridge in 2019 – is set to be beaten and the Met Office said other regions will hit at least 90F.

Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse insists the Government is ready and, after ­chairing the Cobra meeting in Whitehall, urged the public to look out for those who are most vulnerable in the heat.

He said: “The key thing we can do is prepare the Government services for what may be a surge in demand – not least the health service and elsewhere – but also critically communicate that the first line of defence is actually individual behavioural change.

“People need to take care, do all the stuff they would do when it is very hot – wear a hat, drink water – but also with the most ­vulnerable groups – the elderly, those with cardiovascular problems and the very young – people look out for them and take care.”

He warned: “The current forecast is we will be in the mid to high-30s but there is a smaller possibility we could exceed that and possibly hit 40, an all-time record.”

Practical steps also include staying out of the sun in the middle of the day, never leaving children or pets in a parked car and keeping curtains closed to keep out the sun. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, also urged people to check on older relatives, friends and neighbours.

She said: “Any older person already coping with significant health issues, ­especially if they impact their heart or their lungs, is going to find the heatwave a challenge.”

Professor Emily Shuckburgh of Cambridge University underlined the risks, saying: “Extreme heat is a silent killer with more than 2,500 heat-related deaths recorded in England in summer 2020, with the elderly especially vulnerable.”

The impact of sustained hot, dry weather was clear in the Peak District with images showing Derwent Reservoir running dry.

But the glorious sunshine is a joy for others. Raich Keene took her golden retriever Raphael for a splashing walk along Exmouth beach in Devon. Meanwhile, teachers’ leaders said sports days may be called off to protect pupils and staff in the last week of term.

Other safety measures are set to include limiting break times in the sun and ventilating classrooms as well as possible.

For those already heading away on holiday, a burst water main at Gatwick Airport caused a major inconvenience with only two toilets said to be working in one terminal at one point due to low pressure.

Some restaurants were also affected and unable to provide food or drinks as SES Water worked to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, all steam locomotives were suspended on the Severn Valley Railway between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster until at least Tuesday.

It was due to fears that the hot and dry weather “poses a significant risk of fires being started by cinders escaping from the engines”. Services are instead being hauled by heritage diesel locomotives.

The Met Office explained the UK’s big bake-off is due to high pressure caused by hot air spreading up from the continent.

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